DCITA sourcing technical consultants

The Department of Communications, Information Technology and The Arts (DCITA) is tendering for a brains trust to provide advice on future information technology purchases and technological direction.

DCITA is yet to determine how many organizations will be on the panel. The contract spans two years, beginning July this year until June 30, 2009, and includes a possible 12-month contract extension.

Closing date for the tender is February 12, 2007.

According to tender documents, the panel must have knowledge of the protocols and standards behind next generation networks, distribution over platforms such as IPTV and an understanding of the technical aspects of IT security.

The documents also ask for a service provider with a technical viability, capacity and sustainability of current and emerging telecommunications technologies.

"We may also seek advice on engineering developments and technological issues relating to fixed line networks, wireless networks, radio communications, spectrum allocation, usage and management," the documents said.

Other issues the department needs advice on include technical constraints, capacity, speeds, sustainability and quality of service issues for broadband, technical issues on handling and filtering spam, spyware, adware and inappropriate Internet content.

DCITA also requires an expert to track developments in calling line identification, telephone numbering and Internet domain names for next generation networks as well as the technical issues relating to broadcast platforms and services such as digital radio and television, satellite broadcasting and IPTV.